That movie was too scary. I could NOT finish watching it. It scared the shit out of me.

I'm talking about Sicko.

Most of you have probably seen it. We bought a copy over the weekend and watched it tonight.

I agree with the point of view. I want single payer health care. If anyone wants to call it socialized medicine, that's fine by me. Just give it to us.

Many of you know I had a heart attack less than a year ago. I recovered.

But now it strikes me. If I ever get canceled by my insurer, I'm dead meat. And **THAT** scared the shit out of me. I immediately identified with the couple in opening scene. The ones who had to move in with their daughter and watch their son in law go off to Irag to work as a plumber. That could easily be Sparkly and me. Or you and your spouse.

I only hope that others not as inclined as I toward single payer get the same visceral reaction to it as I did.

Sicko is a REAL "Scary Movie".

Maybe - I pray - it will scare this country smart. Something has to.

we would never have to worry about health care.:sarcasm:

By going to ER's and getting free services, they've caused several hospitals in border states to close. My family has been in the health care industry for decades, and they've seen this happen first-hand. Even the hospitals that do thrive find that their ER staffs are being stretched to the limit, having to deal with patients who don't really have emergencies, but just go to ER because they're having babies, or their kids have colds, etc.

These costs are, as always, passed along to the consumers. Which means health care costs at hospitals are higher, and this also helps drive up insurance premiums. It's very much a part of our health care crisis, right along with all the other factors driving up costs.

Legal citizens do the same damn thing. As do legal immigrants. Placing the blame on "aliens" to the point of exclusion is dishonest at best.

The issue is the insurance companies, not the people using the hospital.

as if it is the clinic. It does hurt hospitals but it is not just a problem of immigrants.

...... while I agree with you on the fact that any given hospital is, indeed, 'hurt' by treating indigent people, the fact is, these people either game the system in this way or suffer as NO person (origin notwithstanding) in this country ought to suffer.

far from any border. Only 3 of every 10 patient visits are paid for. How many of you here work in businesses where only 3 of 10 customers pay their bills, and how long would they survive if that happened?

The health care system is broken and needs to be fixed.

who use the ER because it is more convenient as opposed to those who are uninsured? It seems to me that the ones who are uninsured really do not have another alternative while the first group simply use it so they do not have to wait in a doctors office. A universal health care program would help the problem with those who are uninsured but I suspect the other group would still be waiting until the clinic is closed so they can go to ER.

than after watching SICKO... We must get everyone to see it...and then take action.

Just a suggestion.

We can't run form this shit. We need to make a stand.

But then ....... there's so damn much about which to take a stand.

Sometimes it all just feels overwhelming.

I've just resigned myself to the futility of trying to change a system that is institutionally ingrained into the populace; a system that is rigged against us. A vote for either side is a vote for the status quo.

You wanna change the system? Ignore it. Stop voting. Stop buying unnecessary products. Walk. Grow your own food. Refuse to carry government issued IDs. Tell the government "unless you listen to me, I want nothing to do with you" with your ACTIONS, not just your words. 50% of the country cutting their expenditure by 60% for 12 months WILL get their attention.

But alas, that's too difficult. An advocates for change who do no more than talk and vote for the candidate who pays the most lip service to them, is not an advocate for change.


Not directed at anyone. That sorta just came out. I've been watching George Carlin lately.

Give me liberty or give me death.

My husband lost his job on the 12th of Nov. We have no health insurance. He was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, and is not feeling well.

I wish something would wake up Americans to the healthcare system and what is needed. I am for a single-payer system, but my children think it should be "privatized" - ugh! Who can afford healthcare? We can't, and are praying his situation remains stable for a couple months, until he gets a job with health benefits. Even then we probably won't be able to afford the surgery. :-(

We watched "Sicko" right before all this occurred. It is scary and now we are going through a nightmare.

I actually **can** imagine what you're going through.

I remember when you had your heart attack. That was a shock to hear and how frightening it was for you one can only imagine. I am so happy you are doing well now. I always enjoy your posts!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! :-)

Gobble up!

here in Alaska. According to a local TV news story last night, "In Anchorage, there are more than 700 doctors in private practice. Of them, zero are accepting new Medicare patients, according to OPAG." That is ZERO doctors are accepting new Medicare patients. While we have reasonably good medical coverage now through my husband's union, when he reaches 65 (in five years) we will be forced onto Medicare ... either that or pay for any medical care out of pocket. Pretty sad considering we've been paying $9600 a year for the coverage we now have which we hardly ever use.

Thankfully, we're very healthy (now) but we're going to be in big trouble if that changes in the future.

As a Canadian, I thank FSM that I don't live in the US. If any American watches that movie and is not moved to do SOMETHING about the healthcare situation, they're idiots.

BTW, the Canadian scenes were absolutely authentic.

http://whatawaytogomovie.com/files/trailers/trailer4.html

Next year: Halloween Double Feature.

My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

personal exposure to medical horrors before they wake up.

Hubby just spent two weeks in the hospital which we never could have afforded if we were "middle class". We are among the recently impoverished, due to his medical needs: all accounts including retirement cashed out and went through Ch. 7 bankruptcy. Once he got on disability, he got Medicare (End-Stage Renal Disease) and Medicaid (low-income), and so gets reasonable care.

I, on the other hand, can only get CA's County Medical Services Program for the medically indigent poor. Due to Hubby's disability payments, I have a Share of Cost of $284 per month. So, I essentially have only catastrophic coverage. Somehow, the state thinks we can live on $955 per month.

There is something wrong with a country that intentionally forces people into poverty to receive medical care.

:mad:

Health Plan. Thank God. they do not cover everything but mostly what I need. I do not know how long this Plan will survive but am thankful I have it now.Otherwise I will just prepare to die. I really think that is what the government wishes. You get old, so go ahead and die.

wonderful Thanksgiving. I enjoy your posts so much.

:blush:

Our best wishes back to you and yours ......

And our best wishes to EVERYONE.

I am thankful I'm alive.

But my immediate superior has seen it, and he said it will make you angrier than anything
else you have ever seen. I will pick up a copy the next time I'm Stateside. Although I haven't
had a heart attack, it was dumb luck that I missed one--I was about to have one, and escaped
due to pure chance (and by remembering that two of my grandparents died of heart attacks before
reaching the age of seventy).

It came out right when I was diagnosed with renal cancer and I just couldn't deal with it. I may be ready now to watch it but know it will bring back those anxieties.
I know that I am extremely lucky to have good health care coverage through my wife's employer. I can't imagine how much harder it all would have been without it.

only to find out it is just a cruel hoax that we pay dearly for.

yes, I want single-payer too. But I wish some of our presidential candidates, or anyone in a position of power, would tackle the tremendous costs of health care at the provider level. Medical malpractice insurance costs $100,000 a year for a typical ER physician. It's tremendously more for surgeons and private practice docs. Now think how many docs your town has, and how much malpractice insurance needs to be recovered ....from whom? They overbill the insurance companies. Labs price gouge on tests simply because they can. Everyone knows big pharma likes to keep their prices exorbitantly high, but there isn't much attention paid to the medical equipment companies who keep prices high simply because they can. No-bid contracts are not just for defense contractors.

than most private healthcare insurances, in my view, though neither one is perfect.

The other day I met a Republican who had seen Sicko, FYI. He commented that he was glad he's got care through the VA, as he's a veteran, and that he feels his healthcare there is very good.

When I pointed out that's socialized medicine, I could see the lightbulb go on, and he agreed that we need single-payer healthcare for everyone.